《离骚》节选 

The Lament (Excerpt)

By Qu Yuan 屈原

Translated by Yang Xianyi 杨宪益

长太息以掩涕兮，哀民生之多艰。

Long did I sigh and wipe away my tears, to see my people bowed by griefs and fears.

亦余心之所善兮，虽九死其犹未悔。

But since my heart did love such purity, I'd not regret a thousand deaths to die.

惟草木之零落兮，恐美人之迟暮。

The fallen flowers lay scattered on the ground, the dusk might fall before my dream was found.

背绳墨以追曲兮，竞周容以为度。

The use of common rules they held debased; with confidence their crooked lines they traced.

路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索。

The way was long, and wrapped in gloom did seem, as I urged on to seek my vanished dream.